The Next Iron Chef: Who will climb the ranks to culinary greatness? Sundays at 9pm/8c

The Cast

Morou Ouattara
Eliminated Week 3

Age: 41

From: Ivory Coast, West Africa

Current hometown: Bowie, Md.

Job: Executive Chef & Owner – Farrah Olivia

Marital status: Married

Children: 2 girls – Farrah Olivia (3) and Korah Mariah (16 months)

Read Morou's full bio

Q&A with FoodNetwork.com

Why should you be the next Iron Chef?
I should be the next Iron Chef because I will bring something new and different to the show. A whole new type of cuisine: American with an African accent.

You have an impressive resume, but so do your competitors. What makes you stand out from the others?
My cultural background. I cook like I speak: American with an accent. My cuisine blends African spices into fine dining American food using French techniques or molecular gastronomy as a mean to reach my goal.

What is your culinary point-of-view or cuisine you're known for?
Explore, but always cook from bottom of your heart. Translate your feelings into dishes. You will always do better cooking what you know best. I personally use a lot of unique spices and some techniques like drying, smoking and preserving foods from the Ivory Coast in my cuisine.

What is your signature ingredient?
I don’t think of ingredients that way, but I love using unique spices from West Africa.

What ingredient do you avoid?
I will try everything at least once.

What is your favorite meal?
Whatever my wife makes is good for me.

What is your favorite restaurant?
Makoto: 4822 Mac Arthur Blvd. NW, Washington, DC

What is your favorite food destination?
Las Vegas

Who are your culinary inspirations?
Michel Bras

What's your alternative dream job?
Architect

What's your culinary secret weapon?
My mother